A staggering 56% of all satellite-tagged hen harriers that have been brood meddled since 2019 are ‘missing’ in suspicious circumstances / have been illegally killed.
Of the 41 brood meddled hen harriers, 23 are ‘missing’ / dead, according to data held by Natural England (data from September 2023 onwards not yet available):
I’m publishing these results in response to an astonishing piece published today by the Moorland Association that claims that the [short-term] survival rate of brood meddled hen harriers is almost double that of un-meddled hen harriers.
The Moorland Association hasn’t provided the data it used to reach its conclusion but given the appallingly high level of continued illegal killing of hen harriers on driven grouse moors (110 missing/dead since 2018) it seems like a desperate but futile attempt to portray the grouse shooting industry as the hen harrier’s best friend. I’m afraid that fictional tale has long been blown out of the water.
I note also that the Moorland Association doesn’t mention the extent of the ongoing persecution of hen harriers on grouse moors but that’s hardly a surprise given that the Moorland Association Chairman recently told BBC Radio 4, “Clearly, any illegal [hen harrier] persecution is not happening” (here).
Why Natural England continues to view the grouse shooting industry as a ‘partner’ when that industry so blatantly ignores/denies what’s so obviously going on is beyond me, I’m afraid, although the £75,000 ‘donation’ received by NE might have something to do with it.
This latest publicity ruse by the Moorland Association is pathetic but predictable. I suspect they know what news is brewing in the background and are trying to get some favourable media coverage before that all breaks…
Raptor Persecution UK 
Unfortunately there are several major newspapers only too willing to publish the sane twaddle, as well as several journalists who have sold their souls to the devil and are able to get TV and radio stations to publish. I’m sure that they are as aware as most readers of this blog that your figures are correct, but that is of no concern to tham.
Blimey! That is astonishing. I wonder whether the MA will get an award for their single-handed success in bringing back the hen harrier from near extinction. Well done to them and those lovely people at NE.
You may as well pack your bags Ruth. The hen harrier is safe and we can all sleep soundly in our beds
The usual corrupt farcical bollocks that we have to endure . The wildlife and birds of prey on any driven grouse moor are doomed . Proud of myself on Tuesday challenged our local hunt came on the land where my horse lives they got the lot pompous horrible people never understand women doing it I we are supposed to be the gentler breed they proper got my hackles up and the wrath of my tongue bastards.Good to vent in person I felt lighter .
Nothing will change until we have a change of government. The Tories are the problem. Many of them are hunters or shooters. Unfortunately, they have placed people, who have vested interests in maintaining the existing status quo, into every crucial official body. DEFRA and Natural England are now wholly compromised with these shooting industry “acolytes”. However, thanks to Raptor Persecution and Wild Justice, light is still being shone onto this disgraceful state of affairs.
It’s not just DEFRA and NE. Not long before Steve Barclay was appointed Environment Secretary, he received a £3000 donation from Sir Michael Hintze, a Tory peer who has funded the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF). The GWPF are a team of climate deniers who campaign against policies designed to tackle the climate crisis. Such insidious influences on government policy are increasing the UK’s risk from escalating climate change. More importantly, they are actively holding the country back from the economic benefits which will come from adopting measures designed to get us towards net zero. Measures such as a real commitment to green industry, to updating the National Grid, to carbon neutral housing and onshore wind turbines.
I understand that Shell, which makes billions in annual profit, pays no tax in the UK.
MA piece state that “This year nine birds were tagged of which four are still transmitting regularly. It is hoped that the signals may return with some better weather, but the lack of signal from some is being treated as suspicious and is currently under police investigation.” So that’s 5 missing in 2023, another 2 above the 3 on your list above:-(
“Wet, cold and cloudy winter weather is not only a challenge for the young birds but also for their tracking devices which rely on solar powered batteries.” Mmm, daylength (but not wet, cold) may impact solar tags in winter.
Thanks, kerryeagle. I can’t add those to the list of the missing/dead until Natural England formally acknowledges the deaths/disappearances in the NE HH spreadsheet (next update due in New Year).
There are actually quite a few more dead/missing HHs to add to the list (not just brood meddled HHs either) and news of some of those will be made public shortly, which is why I suspect the Moorland Association has chosen to publish its latest propaganda piece now. They know what’s coming.
The comment from the MA suggesting that low battery voltage could be responsible for the loss of tag transmissions is misleading, to say the least. The engineering data from the tag will indicate a drop in battery voltage – it’s not guesswork, as the MA suggests!
The owners of the shooting grounds MUST BE HELD LIABLE FOR ALL BIRDS ON THEIR PROPERTY. IF THERE ARE KILLED, MISSING HEN HARRIERS FINE THEN £1,000 fer bird. This will either stop them running shoots or stop and preserve these wonderful birds. Hit them in the pocket that is where the road meets the rubber so to speak.
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Sometimes you have to wonder at either the scientific knowledge of the folk at the xxxxx xxxxx Moorland Association, their basic education, honesty or perhaps sanity. ” Fledging success of the trial to date has been nearly 100% – higher than observed in similar captive rearing programmes and in the wild.” One it certainly isn’t 100% as some birds have died whilst still captive every year, xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx. Then FFS birds in captivity without the risk of predation or food shortages are bound to have a good survival rate, Are the xxxxx xxxxx Moorland Association Thick or Something?
“Hen Harriers suffer high mortality rates, particularly in their first year of life. The hen harrier population in England is now at a 200-year high.” We don’t know what the natural mortality of young birds in their first year is because of high rates of persecution, the natural rate MUST be lower than that currently measured. A 200 year high, I rather doubt that to say the least.
“Wet, cold and cloudy winter weather is not only a challenge for the young birds but also for their tracking devices which rely on solar powered batteries.” Really when I was satellite tagging geese who like harriers spend almost no time under cover a few tags in winter had problems but most did not and that was older technology than now. Harriers are still suffering huge persecution issues and perhaps brood Meddled chicks might survive better than their compatriots if the rumours of Moors being told when they are present are true. “Don’t shoot any currently lads there’s a BM’d and tagged bird here.” Xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx this is moronic drivel from the xxxxx xxxxx Moorland Association.